Shelf support



H. L. OWENS SHELF SUPPORT April 20 Filed April 5 1924 other as clearly shown.

Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED S A E/s resin-5s I .HQRACE L, .ownns, orjflrirrranntrnra, mammals. f

SHELF sorroac'r.

Application filed April 5, 1924.. Serial ma a To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE L. OWENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Shelf Support, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in supports for shelves and the like, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap and efiective device of th s description which may be utilized to; position and firmly support a shelf or similar object between two walls or surfaces.

A further object of this invention is to construct such a device of a single piece of sheetmetal and provide a short and a long prong so related to each other as togive an angle to the body of the support when the device is placed against a surface.

A still further object of the device is to provide for introducing a block of friction material between the prongs for certain classes of work.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing them'anner of securing a shelf in place with my improved supports.

Fig. 2 is a face view of the support.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing a stop block inserted between the prongs.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a friction block as an insert.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, 1 represents the body of the support, which consists of a strip of sheet metal bent upon itself, one layer extending beyond the The shortlayer of this body has its end bent outward to form the prong 2, while the long layer thereof has its end bent in the same direction to for-m the prong 3. I 1

The prong 2 is shorter than the prong 3, and these lengths are so proportioned that when the prongs are seated against a surface the body assumes an angle so as to act as a wedge for the purpose hereinafter set forth. In bending the prong 3 a rib 4 is provided, which latter serves as a stop to limit the downward movement of the shelf. 7

In practice, one or more of these supports are placed against each of the two Walls or surfaces between which the shelf 5 is to be secured and the ends of the shelf are forced down the inclined surfaces of the holders, thus wedging the said shelf in place and at the same time jamming the holders against the walls and causing the prongs 2 and 3 to take a firm hold, so. as to give the shelf a rigid bearing, the rib 4 preventing the shelf from being forced too far downward.

When the supports are to be placed against a relatively soft surface, a stop block 6 is used, said block being set between the prongs 2 and ,3, as shown in Fig. 4. This stop block will limit the depth to which the prongs may be driven into the surface of the wall7.

Where the supports are to be used upon an unyielding surface, such as a tiled wall or glass, a friction block 8 is inserted between the prongs, the outer surface of the block extending beyond the ends of the prongs, as shown in Fig. 5, and when found desirable an adhesive substance may be applied to the outer surfaces of these blocksto facilitate their hold upon the surfaces v against which theyare placed.

By the use of my improved supports shelves may be readily placed in any desired position between two surfaces without the use of nails or screws and may be as readily removed or reset, and it is obvious that one or more of these supports may be wedged between the ends of the shelf from the upper side, to secure the shelf against any upward movement. I

I have found that these supports may be advantageously used for securing partitions in boxes and the like, and also thatcurtain poles and display rods maybe secured in place thereby.

To facilitate the accurate placing of shelves it is desirable that means be provided J EN O W to temporarily secure the holders in position on the walls or other surfaces, and I accomplish this by attaching a strip 9 of adhesive coated material to each support so that by moistening these strips and pressing them against the wall surfaces the supports will be held in correct position while the shelf is being placed in position. This strip may be of paper or other suitable. material and may cover the entire outer surface of the support to give an attractive finishto the completed article.

Of course I do not wish-to be limited to shown as these may be varied within the 15 limits of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Havlng thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful 1s A shelf support comprising parallel body portions the lower end of one terminating short of the other, and a prong projecting in the same direction from each of said lower ends of the body portions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 25 aflixed my signature;

[HORACE L. oWENs. 

